My honourable friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Mr Paul Clark) has made the following Ministerial Statement.

In answer to Parliamentary Question 136910 [Official Report 15 May 2007, col. 465] asking when retro-reflective markings would become mandatory for newly registered heavy goods vehicles, the then Minister of State, Dr Stephen Ladyman, stated this would be 10 October 2009.

In view of the current economic situation I am announcing that, to reduce regulatory costs on vehicle manufacturers and the haulage industry, this measure will not now become mandatory for new vehicle registrations until 10 July 2011.

Other regulatory simplification measures on vehicle lighting due to be implemented at the same time will continue to be implemented at the earliest opportunity.